Self-playing musical instrument.



'PATENTED JULY so, 1907".

" SELF PLAYIN G MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIUATIONHIILED MAR. 2a, 1906'.

v Gncmunmnmum HIS ATIORNEYS WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

, BENJAMIN S. DEAN, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it'known that L'BENJAMIN S. DEAN, a citizen of llu- United States of America, and resident of San F ran- 'cisco, county of San-Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Playing Musical Instruments and Musical-Instrument Players, of which the following is a specification, -reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof;

My invention relates to improvements in self-playing musical instruments and musical instrument players of be made for inequalities in travel of the two sheet members.

To this end my invention consists in providing means for adjusting the two trackers with respect to each other so as to cause same to move backwards and forwards with relation to the direction of movement of the sheet members which travel thereover, such means being automatically controlled by the said music record sheet. members.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe anembodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating same, and will then point out the novel features in' claims. i v

In the drawings: Figural is a view in partial end elevation and partial vertical transverse section, showing two trackers and compensating means therefor, together with two record sheet member's employed in connection therewith. Fig. .2 is a detail viewof a rocking beam employed therein, together with certain co -related parts, viewed at right angles to the point of view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail face view of the trackers at one end thereof. Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary view of h part of one of the music sheet members near one edge threof.

The two trackers are illustrated at 1 and 2 in the drawings, the perforations therein for controlling the tones to'be produced being designated by the reference character 3. In addition to the perforations 3, there are other perforations, two of which (one in each tracker board), I; will term herein rectifying perforations 4. The trackers 1 and 2 are pivoted at points 5 to parts stationary in the device, upon which points they are adapted to have a relative swinging movement. The two trackers l and 2 are provided with outwardly projecting arms 6, which are connected 1 links.7, such arms and links compelling complementary movements botweon thsttwo trackers always in opposite directions.- The two record sheet members 8 and 9 are shown as Specification of Letters Patent.

- Application filed liar-ch 23,1906. Serial No. 307,670.

Patented July 30,1907.

being paid on from the same roller 10, but the individual members are taken up on separate take-up rollers 11 and 12. The members 8 and 9 pass over and under a guide piece 13, then over their iespective trackers 1 and 2 to the take-up rollers 11, 1 2"; as is shown in the drawmgs.

I The rectifying orifices of the trackers are connected by means of tubes 14 and 15 with primary pneumatic devices 16, 17. These primary pneumatic devices comprise stationary cylindrical studs18 to which are fitted with a sliding fit, domes l9, and springs 20 arranged between the-domes and the studs to normally force the said domes upward. The studs have an opening 21 thereth rough leading through a passage 22 and port 23 120 a vacuum chamber '24.' Screws 25 are employed at various points to regulate the amount of air ;al,lowed to pass selected points at given times. The

two pneumatic devices 16, 17 are arranged to actuate a rocker bea'rn 26. This rocking beam is in the shape of an inverted in or double bell crank lever, the lateral arms of which engage the pneumatic devices, and the ver- 5 tical arm of which is adapted to contact with, and operate, valve rods 27, -28. Each of the rods 27, 28 carries inlet and discharge valves 29, 30, arranged tocontrol the admission and exhaust of air from secondary pneumatic devices 31, 32. The domes of these secondary pneumatic devices are connected with an arm 33, said arm being secirred to. or constructed as a. part of, .the arms 6 of the lower tracker 2. Thus, by moving the arm 33 backwards and 'forwards, relative movements-in opposite directions will be imparted to the trackers 1 and2 as will be well understood. The record sheet members are provided near one of their edges with openings 34 arranged to register with the rectifying orifices 4 of the trackers. The openings 34 are arranged to exactly correspond in both the musicsheet members, so that, in the normal running ofthe record sheets, the said perforations 34 will rcgisterrsynchronously with the rectifyingorificcs4 in both the said trackers 1 and 2. Bearing in mind that the effect of a perforation 34 registering with an orifice 4 is to vent air into one or other of the primary pneumatic devices 17, 18, thereby to raise the air pressure within the pneumaticdevice so affected and permit the spring 20 therein to operate, it will follow that the sheet members, when running normally, will cause synchronous impulses to be given at predetermined intervals to both the. primary pneumatic devices 16, 17, with the result that the rocking beam 26 will bereciprocated in right lines. Thiis reciprocation will have he effect whatever upon the rods 27, 28 or the valves carried thereby, and hr e there will be no effect upon the secondary 'pneu'rns'tic devices, and the trackers will he maintained in a relatively etationary position. ll, however, one record sheet member begins to creep slightly forward with respect to the other, the rectifying orifice: 4 inf-he corresponding thereby tipped. Say, for example, air isxvented into.

the pneumatic device 16 in advance of thedevice 17. This will tip the 26ovor to the right, causing the valve 29 of the secondary pneumatic device 32% be opened and thevalve 30 to be closed. The secondary" pneumatic device 32 will'then be opened to vacuum,

and the arms 33 fi'will h'e'swungnpon their pivots 5 and relative movements inparted to the trackers land 2. .The relative movemiits 'of the trackers will be such as'to compensate; for the, advance movement of one record sheet member overthe other, as is desired.

In order to prevent the compensating-movement just ldcscribed from beingneutralized byoperation oi the other pneumatic device uponwenting of air through the" rectifying orifice 4 in thelother tracker (namely,

that which is later opened ),"I provide. a special means 2 0 by which when the 'beam has been: once tipped, it-

can not b'estmightenedput by a release movement until both the pneumatic devices are again under tension and the-beam has'been down to its normal horizontal lowermost position. This means is comprised 2 5 in pins 35 carried by the vertical arm'of the beam 26,

which are arranged upon opposite sides of a central fiat-- steel This 'steel s'pring' is connected at its upper end with the arm' 33, and at its lower end to a iixed point the device. .The said spring has a cutaway 'portion 37, as wili be seen more clearly b'yreferonce to Fig. 2,the pins being arranged opposite the cut-away portion while the beam is in its'lowermostposition. lYhen the beam 26 is tilted, the pins 35 will both pass'upon one side or the other of the steel Spring 35 36, and thus, upon upward movement thereof, will (rinse the beam to be raised in its tilted position and prevent the beam from being drawn do a horizontal xisitionuntil it has been again drawn down to its lowerm st position, because it is only at the lowermost posi: 4Q Linn that the pins may pass frecly through the slott-cd portion 37 at other times-they will be impeded in their movement by engagement with the spring piece 36. At its lower end the beam 26 is provided with pins 38, also arrangcd upon opposite sides of the vsteel spring 36, but those pins'ar'e solely guide pins w ns in guiding the beam 26 in its folding movcinchis, '\\'hat lclaimisz. I

1. In a device o f;the character dcs'cl'ihcd, thecombinalion with a plurality of separate trackers over which music ri-cord sheets are adapted to travel, of moans autoimiiically controlled in the opcrationof the instrument for ndjnstim: the truckers \vithu'cspect toeuch other in 'the direction of travel of the szrid music record sheets.

.2. In a dvv iclof the character described, the combinalion aplurnlity of irackersnrranged to receive a-plurnlil of music sheet members to correspond with the said Irnl hrs, 6f means'auromntically con'trofil d in the normal (lfifll'iillfifiqf the dovic c fiir imparting relative movements the. Music shoot members.

h fid "'fi idcpondont trackers, and music record i-isiiig'itwzo. perforated sheets a n e s ns riativcly nd justiug the said s wit-hi'e'sisecn-ronnflnziinrrin. the di ction 0 travel of the said pertorated sheets. I i

4. In a. device of the character-described, the combination with a. tracker arranged for co-actlon with a music d'i i'icekir the character described. the comhina-' :inged to travel} ;of means controlled by -the I -oI-coinpe ati onjo the" trackers to compensate for unequal Witnesses:

record sheet, ofime'anscontroiied ii'y'ilie record sheet in its 7i; travel over the tracker to adjust the position oithe tracker. in the direction of travel of the music sheet.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with two pivotaiiy'mountcd trackers counoclcd together whereby they are rocked simultaneously in opposite directions, of means controlling the said rocking movemerits thereofg j 6. In a deviceof the character described, the combination-with twopivotaliv mounted trackers connected to getber whereby they are rocked simultaneously in opposite dllQ'iCtiOllS. said trackers arranged for coiipcration with "music record means comprising two separate perforated shects of means controlled by the music record means in the movementdhereof over the trackers for imparting rocking movements to the said trackers. I

7.In.a device of the character described. the combination with trackcrmcans comprising two separate trackers over which music record sheets are adapted to travel, of- ,primary pneumatic devices connected with openings in .said tracker means, andsccondary pneumatic means controlled by said primary pneumatic devices for adjusting the trackers with respect to eiich other in the. direction or travel of the said music record sheets. *8'. In a device of the character described, the combination with two pivotally mounted trackers connected cogether whereby they will rock simultaneously; in opposite directions, of pneumatic means controlled through said -trackers for impartingsuch rockingmovementstherctof 9. In a device'ot the character described, the combina tion with two track its over which music record sheets are" adapted to travel, of pneumatic means tor adjusting theposition of said trackers with relation to each other in the direction of travel of the saidmusic record s ts, said pneumatic means controlled through openings in the said trackers. 1

10. In a device of the character described, the,combination with two trackers, 015- pneumaticmeans for adjusting the position or said trackers with relation to each dther said pneumatic means controil (I through openings in the trackers in accordance with which opening is uncovered first, and means or preventing the la'ter uncovering'oi! the, corresponding opening in the other trackenfrom restoring'2 the parts to their ire-adjusted positions.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with twotrnckers, of pneumatic means connecting with said trackers through openings therein,-means where---' by the uncovering of the opening .in one of the said track ers prior to'thc. uncovering ottheotheiflwill cause the snid trackers to be adjusted withrespcctto each other inone direction, and means whereby adjustment-will not be ef footed in the other direction until the opening iii the other said tracker is uncovered prior to the opening intheflrst said tracker. k

12. in a device of the character described, the combination with two trackers, of pneumatic means connecting 2 with said trackvrihrough openings therein, means whereby" the uncovering of the opening'in one 01. the said trackers prior to the uncovering of the other will cause the trackers to be adjusted with respect to each other-.in one direction, and means whereby adjustment. will not be efifccted in the other direction until theopening in the other said tracker is uncovered prior to the openingin the first said tracker, and whereby the simultaneous uncovering of the'two saidopeniugs Shaun-affect no'adjustment of the said trackers one way or the other.

13. In a device of the character described, thecolnbination with two pivotally mounted trackers connected to-* gcther whereby they will rock simultaneously in opposite directions, primary pneumatic means in connection with each said tracker; a rocking beam connected with, and op 4 era'tcd blv. said primary pneumatic means, secondary pnumatic means connected mechanically with said trackers, and valves controlling said secondary pneuinatic means operated by movements of said rocking beam.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of=two\vitnesses;

W. .7. houses,

Gsong n A. MAINE. 

